Preparing Your Business For Any Disaster

5/27/2019 (Permalink)

Follow these tips to be prepared in the face of the worst case scenario!

Disaster preparedness is a vital part of being a smart business owner. We all hope disaster never comes, but we need to be ready. If you don’t have a plan, it’s a good idea to consider one while everything is going well - once one occurs, it’s obviously too late, and it could be an extremely expensive omission. That’s a gamble that just isn’t worth taking.

A few steps you can take that will help prepare your business for any disaster:

• Risk Assessment. This is an essential first step and will help you understand threats to your business and the corresponding potential costs. If anyone on your team is hesitant to spend time on emergency preparedness, showing them the business impact numbers may help them to get behind the project.
• Team Building. Put together a cross-functional team that makes sense for your business, and clearly define the roles.
• Action plan. Define how your organization will respond to any disaster.
• Training. Train your staff to ensure that they have a clear understanding of what they are to do and that they are comfortable in carrying out their responsibilities. Live action practice can be invaluable here. Make sure you do regular updates and training to keep everyone ready.
• Supply Chain. Your immediate operations will be top of mind, but don’t forget your suppliers. A supplier disaster could cause you huge issues in your own operation.
• Monitor. Keep an eye on any threats that could be developing so that you can respond appropriately, and immediately, should the worst happen. Know what the threat is, and be ready for the worst. It may not be possible to have more than just a few minutes’ warning, but that can be essential when it comes to safety.

Being prepared for a disaster can seem overwhelming, but if you take it one step at a time, it can be accomplished. Call us here at SERVPRO of Huron & East Seneca Counties for help with your plan, and if the worst happens, we are here to help. We are experts in fire and water damage, and mold remediation is one of our specialties.